Public backs rail over buses

29 September 2015

University of Sydney Business School releases latest Transport Opinion Survey

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As Sydneysiders get ready for the closure of George Street and work to begin on the Sydney Light Rail project this week, the latest Transport Opinion Survey shows the public lacks faith in the ability of governments to deliver transport improvements.

Australians are in favour of significant spending on public transport, would prefer to see the development of rail over bus services and are continuing to lose faith in the ability of governments to deliver transport improvements, according to the latest survey by the University of Sydney Business School.

The latest Transport Opinion Survey (TOPS), conducted by the school’s world-renowned Institute of Transport and Logistics Studies (ITLS), asked participants how they would like to see their government to spend a hypothetical budget of a $100 billion on transport improvements.

Slightly more than half (51 per cent) answer public transport with 49 per cent preferring to see the money spent on roads.

"It is clear that there remains a strong community commitment to improved public transport," said ITLS Director Professor David Hensher.

The latest TOPS also found that three in five Australians would prefer see investment in rail over bus services.

When asked to choose between the development of a 30-kilometre rail corridor or 300 km of dedicated bus lanes for the same cost, around 60 per cent nationwide preferred a rail corridor. Queensland and South Australia had a relatively higher number of participants supporting dedicated bus lanes (44 percent).

"This confirms findings from other research. Residents with experience of dedicated bus systems are very much in favour whereas those lacking this experience tend to defaults to the sexier looking light rail systems," said Professor Hensher. "Those states with fast bus systems (South Australia and Queensland) recognise how much they can contribute."

This TOPS also revealed a continuing decline in confidence amongst participants in the ability of government to deliver improvements to transport in their local area and across Australia. The transport confidence index fell to its lowest level since the survey commenced in 2010, with a very strong decline in confidence since September 2013.

The survey was conducted in September 2015, just prior to a change in federal government leadership.

"Statements from the new Prime Minister recognising the importance of Australian cities, may make a difference to confidence levels," Professor Hensher concluded.